Friday, December 14, 2012

LGBT Discrimination At Fort Bragg

UPDATE: (WASHINGTON DC) Amid national controversy surrounding its denial of membership to a lesbian military spouse, the Association of Bragg Officers’ Spouses released a statement indicating it would address the issue at a board meeting next month…:)

We are thrilled that DOMA is headed for the U.S. Supreme Court but in the meantime our LGBT community is discriminated against in so many ways, especially in the military. Army Veteran & OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson has reached out to fellow West Point graduate & Fort Bragg Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn as speculation mounts that a gay military spouse is being discriminated against by the Association of Bragg Officers’ Spouses. Ashley Broadway the legally married lesbian spouse of an active duty Army Lieutenant Colonel was denied membership made public in an open letter Broadway wrote to the Association’s leadership. Since then the Association reportedly changed its web site to reflect a requirement not previously included in its bylaws in an apparent attempt to justify its exclusion of Broadway. Robinson stated, “The facts here are simple: there is no legal need or justification for any spouse to be excluded from a group like this, which exists to provide support to the spouses & families of our military men & women & the communities they serve. Though the organization operates on Ft. Bragg with permission from the Commanding General, the group is not formally affiliated with the military & is not required to bar membership to Ashley. In the absence of a reply from the Association, we are left with no option but to reach out to the base’s leadership. General Allyn needs to know if there is discrimination happening against the military families in his community.” As a private, non-profit organization not governed by laws that apply to the federal government, there is no legal basis - such as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - that would require same-gender military spouses to be excluded from the Association of Bragg Officers’ Spouses. Robinson added that there are many such organizations on bases across the U.S. & around the world where LGBT families have been included & welcomed since the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in September 2011. Updates to Come…:)